Southern Palms Beach Club

Southern Palms is a lively but not a rowdy hotel. Guests are mainly families and couples, and the spacious property is quiet and peaceful. Beautiful views abound throughout the hotel (even many of the Garden View Rooms have some kind of view of the beach), and the pool, lobby, and restaurant offer spectacular views of the turquoise-blue ocean. 

The buildings and grounds are what make Southern Palms stand out. Colonial-style buildings and lush landscaping make the resort feel like a private tropical oasis. Quirky touches like marble statues, arched doorways, and old-time lampposts give the property character.

The lobby has a spacious seating area with a TV, beachy wicker furnishings, and, of course, beautiful views of the beach. The restaurant is located around the corner from the lobby, near the pool, and is popular with guests and non-guests. The restaurant has live music some nights.

Located on the South Coast of Barbados, on the popular and touristy St. Lawrence Gap, Southern Palms is within walking distance of some of the area’s best restaurants, bars, and entertainment. The resort has a large beachfront on Dover Beach, one of the most highly rated beaches in Barbados. The resort is a 15-minute drive from both Bridgetown and the airport.

The resort has 92 units, and the layout of the rooms varies slightly due to different parts of the property having been acquired at different times. Dated wooden furniture, seashell lamps, and gaudy patterned Caribbean bedspreads are found in most of the rooms.

The Oceanview and Gardenview Rooms are basic but not lacking, with small seating areas, large closets, desks, flat-screen TVs, and safes. The beds are comfortable with dated but adequate bedding. The balconies and patios, especially in the Oceanview Rooms, have the feel of a Spanish villa, and offer exceptional views of the beach. 

The Suites are larger, each with a spacious living room with a couch, chair, TV, and desk, as well as a dining table for four. The bedrooms are also larger, with a king-size bed and big dresser. The Suites have a small kitchen that includes a large fridge, a two-burner electric stove, and basic cooking and eating utensils as well as cups, plates, and bowls. There are no microwaves. 

The hotel’s T-shaped main pool, located outside the lobby and next to the restaurant, is spacious and scenic. The pool looks out over the beach and palm trees. However, lounge chairs are situated on the lawn next to the pool, which some may find to be an odd setup. A second, smaller pool is located on the east side of the property.

The property offers fun quirks, like a shuffleboard court and a nine-hole mini golf putting range. A small office provides water sports equipment, including windsurfing, boogie boards, and snorkeling gear. Two large tennis courts are located across the street.

The beach is large and  spacious for the island. There are plenty of lounge chairs, and the palm trees that dot the beach provide a bit of shade. The water is a gorgeous turquoise blue. As with most beaches in Barbados, the water can be quite rough at certain times of the year, and calm at other times. Red flags were displayed when we were there, warning swimmers to proceed with caution.

The Garden Terrace Restaurant, along with the Khus Khus Bar, offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with buffet options available certain days of the week. The food is good and reasonably priced for the area. Situated on the beach and next to the pool, the restaurant offers scenic and romantic views of the water.

Southern Palms also has a spacious business center off of the lobby with three computers and a small library where guests can borrow books. There is free Wi-Fi throughout the property.    

Southern Palms can host weddings and offers assistance with acquiring various wedding services, including flowers, music, photography, and video.